What are popular media ?

Traditional or popular media, such as drama, singing, dancing, story-telling and

proverb telling, exist in many communities worldwide. Community gatherings,
religious meetings and ceremonies can provide opportunities for health
education.

fie most important characteristic of popular media is that they are enjoyed today.
They are living traditions, enjoyed by many people and :

They are entertaining.

They cover ideas and issues of universal concern, such as

love, marriage, honour, failure, success, jealousy, revenge,
wealth, poverty, power, family and group conflicts, and
religion.

Even though they are based on tradition, they change and

adapt with the times to deal with new situations and
incorporate the issues and concerns of the day. Folk media
that have been used in health education include :

Story-telling - both oral and written ;

Drama - theatrical performances, participatory theatre and puppets ,

Song - pop and song types ;

Pictures - art and cloth designs ;

Story-telling
Stories are an enjoyable way of learning about subjects. Many countries have a
rich oral tradition of stories and legends. Story-telling is a good way of reaching
both children and adults. Ideas can be presented in human terms and people can
identify with the characters. Stories are an especially good way of introducing
ideas about health and hygiene to children.

Stories build on the impact ofthe spoken word. Abstract ideas can be conveyed in
everyday terms. People can identify with the characters and remember the
lessons. After telling the story, the audience should be given a chance to discuss
the story and ask questions.

Theatre
Theatre, or drama, is a valuable approach for hygiene education. Its impact
has both a spoken and visual dimension.
 In developing stories and dramas, it is important to spend time with the
community asking them what they think and feel about the topic. These ideas -
and the language that the community use to describe them - can all be put into the
drama. One way to get the best impact on hygiene education from theatre is to use
the following procedure :

Have a dialogue with the community ;

Build into the drama local concerns and issues ,

Perform the drama at a time when most people can come ,

Ask questions afterwards to stimulate discussion and to check that the

main points are understood.

Music and dancing

These can be used on their own or combined with drama for extra impact.
Music is an important form ofcommunication in many societies. Music can arouse
emotions and strong feelings. Music can be traditional music, where local singers have
been directly involved in the selection of songs and words that have both appeal and carry
health messages. Some countries have also used modern pop music to appeal to young
people. Music can be performed live, but it can also be recorded and played in public
places or broadcast on radio.

Puppets
Puppets are another form of theatre that can attract a crowd, and be an
entertaining way of introducing ideas on health and nutrition. Puppets are a
good way ofraising sensitive issues surrounding faeces and personal hygiene
that might not be acceptable if actors were used in a drama.

Other popular media

One good approach is to look around for examples of oral communication in the
community. Poetry and proverbs have been used in health education programmes.
Traditional medicine sellers, magicians, fortune tellers, town criers and market traders
have all been used to get health messages across in interesting and entertaining ways.